It's Friday, Jun 1. Big deal, right? Sort of. Friday is the deadline for the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission to accept or reject the plan presented by the St. Louis Rams to renovate the Edward Jones Dome. The CVC is widely expected to reject the Rams' offer with an estimated price tag around $700 million.

At issue is making the Dome a "first tier" facility among NFL stadiums. What exactly constitutes "first tier" is a matter of interpretation. The CVC sees the price tag for "first tier" as a $124 million. The Rams are thinking a little bigger and bolder.

Read the Rams' proposal and see pictures here.

If the Dome is not up to snuff by March 2015, the Rams can walk away from their lease.

The gap between the proposals should come as no surprise. Both sides are opening the bidding at the extremes. Assuming the CVC rejects the Rams' plan, the two entities have until June 15 to work out a compromise before the matter heads to arbitration. Arbitration can run until the end of this year. If the CVC accepts the arbitrator's decision, the Rams' lease becomes binding through 2025. That offers a little insight into the difference in proposals.

Before you get all fired up and join the windbags on local talk radio, I would counsel patience. Negotiations over the Dome are going to last a long, long time.

Fans on their edges of their seats awaiting the next wave of activity in New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma's defamation suit against NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will have to wait a little longer. Tulane law professor and occasional ESPN contributor Gabe Feldman reported on Thursday afternoon that the Louisiana court where the case was filed granted Goodell a 21-day extension to respond.

The new deadline for Goodell's response in the suit is July 5, 2012.

Vilma filed a personal lawsuit against Goodell on May 17, alleging 11 counts of defamation. The complaint stems from the league's bounty investigation. Vilma claims that statements made by Goodell have damaged his reputation. In the complaint, Vilma denies his role in the bounty scandal, including the offer of $10,000 he is alleged to have made to any teammate who injured quarterback Brett Farve.

The Saints linebacker is asking for compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorney fees and interest on the damages.

Vilma was suspended for the entire season for his role in the Saints' bounty program. The NFLPA is currently appealing those suspensions through a pair of channels under the collective bargaining agreement. Vilma's suit exists outside those boundaries as an individual matter.

Earlier today, I took a brief look at how the St. Louis Rams' new center, Scott Wells, performed last season against teams in the NFC North. Turns out, the former Packer did pretty well, which is a plus since the Rams will be playing that division in 2012. St. Louis will also take on the AFC East, which is the former home of the team's new defensive tackle Kendall Langford.

So how did Langford come out against his former division?

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The schedule makers did not give the St. Louis Rams any breaks this season. Head coach Jeff Fisher gets to take on the AFC East and the NFC North in his first season of trying to steer the ship off the rocks for the Rams. He may have a little help from two of the Rams' high profile free agents. Kendall Langford, a former Dolphin, and Scott Wells, a long-time Packer, know those divisions very well.

And how did those two players fair last season against their former division rivals? Let's take a look.

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The Baltimore Ravens are hopeful that they can get last year's Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs back before the end of the season. According to a Thursday report from Don Banks at SI.com, the Ravens believe that they could have the linebacker back in the lineup late in the season, playing a smaller role as a pass rushing specialist.

Baltimore's assessment differs slightly from Suggs' own evaluation. Suggs believes that he can return sometime in the middle of the season, October even, at full speed and back in his usual role. Recovery time for an Achilles tear such as the one suffered by Suggs is pegged at anywhere from 4-6 months.

The Ravens could use the new injured reserve exception approved by owners earlier this month. The rule change allows teams to bring back one designated player on the injured reserve list before the end of the season. Prior to the change, players on IR were out for the year, whether they could return later or not.

For more on the Baltimore Ravens, visit SB Nation's Ravens blog, Baltimore Beatdown.

The Boston Red Sox can wrap up their four-game series with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday with a sweep. It would be a nice measure of revenge after the Tigers swept the Sox in three games to open the season.

On the mound for Boston is Josh Beckett (4-4, 4.15 ERA), who has since settled in after a rough start to his season against the Tigers. Beckett surrendered seven earned runs in that game on April 7, including five long balls. He has not given up a home run in his last three starts, and has allowed only three runs during that same stretch.

Detroit gives the ball to Max Scherzer. Like Beckett, the young pitcher has had some ups and downs early in the season, but has improved of late. Scherzer has three wins in his last four starts. In 10 starts and 54 innings this season, the Tigers' righty has struck out 72 batters and walked just 18. He has a 5.67 ERA and a 4-3 record.

Date / Time: Thursday, May 31, 7:10 p.m. ET

Location: Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

TV: NESN, MLB Network

Radio: WEEI

Probable Starters: Josh Beckett (4-4, 4.15 ERA ) vs. Max Scherzer (4-3, 5.67 ERA)

For more on the Red Sox go check out Over the Monster and for everything on the Tigers go visit Bless You Boys. For even more baseball go check out Baseball Nation.

The second round of the 2012 French Open continues on Thursday from Roland Garros. After a steady procession of upsets over the course of subsequent days, things have gone relatively straightforward, so far, on the second day of Round 2.

No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal beat Denis Istomin 6-2, 6-2, 6-0. Andy Murray, No. 4 seed, won his match against Jarkko Nieminen, after losing the first set. Murray won by a final score of 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2. No. 6 seed David Ferrer beat Benoit Paire by a final score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

On the women's side, No. 4 seed Petra Kvitova won her match against Urszula Radwanska, 6-1, 6-3. No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova plays Ayumi Morita later in the day.

Thursday's action will be live on ESPN2 from 5 a.m. ET until 10 a.m. From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. action will be carried on Tennis Channel. You can find a live stream beginning at 5 a.m. from ESPN3 or WatchESPN.

For full French Open results, click here.

For more on the 2012 French Open stay tuned to this StoryStream, or you can find more tennis coverage at SB Nation's dedicated tennis hub.

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Former St. Louis Rams equipment manager Todd Hewitt is suing the team for age discrimination. Hewitt filed the case this week in the Missouri Circuit Court in St. Louis County.

Hewitt's case goes all the way back to January 7, 2011, when he was fired, after 40 years with the team, by former head coach Steve Spagnuolo. Hewitt served as the team's equipment manager since 1985, and worked for the team for 40 years, spanning homes in Los Angeles and St. Louis.

In the suit, the plaintiff says that Spagnuolo made statements claiming that Hewitt was "too old for his job" as early as 2009 . According to Hewitt, Spagnuolo used the term "NFL, not for long" to describe the equipment manager's employment situation.

The suit describes Hewitt's firing, which apparently was conduct consistent with most dismissals. Spagnuolo called him into his office, where former GM Billy Devaney was present, and told him that they "were going in a different direction" and even offered to write a glowing recommendation.

Hewitt contacted Chip Rosenbloom, son of former owner Georgia Frontiere and Carroll Rosenbloom and still an owner at the time, who told the long-time equipment manager that his firing "shouldn't have happened."

Age discrimination was common at Rams Park under Spagnuolo and Devaney, according to Hewitt's suit. he claims at least seven other employees over the age of 40 were fired. Those named in the suit (they are not listed as plaintiffs) are: Dan Linza, age 70 (head of security); John Oswald, 52 (vice president of operations); Jim Anderson, 54 (trainer); Ray Ogas, 60 (director of player relations); Pam Benoist, 68 (skybox coordinator); and Bill Stover, 64 (team photographer).

All were replaced by younger employees, according to the suit.

Hewitt does not list a specific amount he is seeking for a remedy in the suit. He is seeking to recoup costs and damages associated with his firing.

Next, we'll see how far this lawsuit proceeds. If it goes to court, Spagnuolo, Devaney and others will likely have to testify. It could be another undesirable sideshow for the St. Louis Rams, who are in the midst of untangling the damage done by prior administrations and involved in a tense round of stadium lease negotiations.

You can read the lawsuit here.

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The second round of play continues from Roland Garros in the 2012 French Open. Wednesday's surprise was the elimination of Venus Williams, whose sister Serena lost in the first round for the first time in her career. Thursday's action has, so far, provided little in the way of upsets.

No. 4 Andy Murray lost the first set against Jarkko Nieminen, but came back to win the next three and stave off elimination. No. 2 Rafael Nadal is playing Denis Istomin, and won the first two sets of the match which is still in progress.

On the women's side, things have been quiet as well. No. 4 Petra Kvitova won her match against Urszula Radwanska. Maria Sharapova, No. 2, plays Ayumi Morita later on Thursday.

For full French Open results from SI.com, click here.

For more on the 2012 French Open stay tuned to this StoryStream, or you can find more tennis coverage at SB Nation's dedicated tennis hub.

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The NFL Players Association pleaded its case in front of arbitrator Stephen Burbank on Wednesday in Philadelphia. At issue was the matter of who has the authority to punish the players implicated in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal. A decision is expected within a week.

Suspensions for Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith and Jonathan Vilma were handed out by Roger Goodell under the auspices of player conduct. The NFLPA argued in front of the arbitrator that the payments involved in the bounty program constitute non-contract payments, which makes it a salary cap matter and therefore subject to Burbank's authority.

Goodell's authority has been a key subtext throughout the bounty scandal, as well as other skirmishes between the union and the league.

Wednesday's hearing lasted roughly 90 minutes. The NFLPA was represented by Jeffrey Kessler. Gregg Levy spoke for the NFL.

For more Saints coverage, check out Canal Street Chronicles. Follow the latest developments in the bounty case in this StoryStream.

The Boston Celtics are in a hole. They lost to the Miami Heat on Wednesday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals by a final score of 115-111. That gives Miami a 2-0 advantage in the series, following a controversial game that went into overtime.

Jeff Clark at Celtics Blog, SB Nation's Celtics blog, tackled the officiating issue.

As much as I hate talking about it, the officiating was part of the story last night. Obviously there were a number of reasons why the Heat were able to get calls. They attacked the lane. The Celtics did their fair share of reaching, grabbing and bumping, as they always do. The Heat are athletic enough to force the issue. And superstar calls or not, James and Wade know how to initiate and create contact.

Rather than any grand plan favoring the Heat, which has become a popular refrain around the web, Clark puts the officiating in perspective.

In my not-so-humble opinion, it is folly to think that any great conspiracy is be-felling the Celtics. But it is fair to put the officials competency under the microscope. They are human and they have good games and bad games. I'd argue that many a Celtic victory was aided by refs giving our defense a good deal of leeway by letting them grab and pull and shove their way to stops (not to mention the classic moving screens that are usually not called). Tonight, it didn't go the Celtics way ...

In a subsequent post on Thursday morning, Clark urges fans not to count the Celtics out just yet.

But most of all I can't count out this team because they have shown so much resilience in the past. Sure, this could be the end and it might not be enough this year, but time and time again they've proven that they cannot be counted out until the final buzzer sounds.

The series continues on Friday night in Boston.

For 2012 NBA Playoffs news, visit our stream. For Celtics news, visit our team page and blog, CelticsBlog. For Heat news, visit SB Nation Tampa Bay and Peninsula Is Mightier.

The 2012 Stanley Cup Finals started with a loss for the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night. The Los Angeles Kings scored on a breakaway in overtime to win Game 1 by a final score of 2-1.

So what happened to the Devils? Sloppy play, that's how John Fischer at In Lou We Trust, SB Nation's Devils blog, described New Jersey's undoing on the ice last night.

The Kings were sloppy, the Devils were far sloppier, and the Devils lost Game 1 in overtime when their second big defensive breakdown resulted in Anze Kopitar getting a huge breakaway on Martin Brodeur.

Simply, this was a bad performance by the Devils. Martin Brodeur did what he could to keep it a game, but he can't score goals or have the Devils perform a successful breakout play. A win in overtime or in the third period on either of the open net opportunities would have been wonderful. Yet, it would have been a stolen victory. The Devils didn't deserve to win this one, and they didn't. Kopitar's game winning goal came from a grave defensive error; but the horrible puck movement and lack of offense doomed the Devils tonight. Peter DeBoer and his players will have plenty to look at and hopefully adjust over the next two days.

The Devils lost the opening game of the Eastern Conference Finals, against the Rangers, before coming back to win the series. Ditto their series against the Flyers. They'll have to go for the hat trick to win the Stanley Cup.

Robert P at Jewels from the Crown, SB Nation's Kings blog, noted something similar in LA's fortunate break in overtime.

It was anybody's game heading into overtime. The Kings' though, regrouped and were able to retake control. There were 25 shot attempts in the overtime and the Kings had 14 of them. One of those 14 being Anze Kopitar's beautiful forehand winner.

Game 2 is Saturday night at the Prudential Center in Newark.

SB Nation New York has a host of previews and analysis for your in our Stanley Cup Finals StoryStream. You can find more entertaining reading on the SB Nation NHL Hub Page. For the Devils perspective, check In Lou We Trust. For the Kings perspective, visit Jewels From The Crown.

The Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat headed to overtime in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night. A strong second half from Miami helped to tie the game at 99-99 at the end of regulation.

Miami started the fourth quarter with an 81-75 lead following a 35-point effort in the third quarter. Dwyane Wade's blocked shot on Ray Allen touched off a Heat surge, following a dominant Celtics performance in the first half of the game.

Both teams went back and forth with the lead in the fourth quarter. With Miami leading by three points, Ray Allen atoned for his blocked shot in the third quarter with a 24-foot three-point jump shot that tied the game. LeBron James missed a layup and a jump shot after getting his own rebound that would have given the Heat a lead with a second left to play.

For 2012 NBA Playoffs news, visit our stream. For Celtics news, visit our team page and blog, CelticsBlog. For Heat news, visit SB Nation Tampa Bay and Peninsula Is Mightier.

The 2012 Stanley Cup Finals started on Wednesday night in Newark, NJ. The New Jersey Devils hosted the Los Angeles Kings in the opening game of the series. Fans packed to the rafters inside the Prudential Center were treated to an exciting game, but left feeling disappointed when an overtime goal gave Los Angeles a 2-1 win and one-game lead in the series.

New Jersey brought the same pressure-filled forecheck that served them so well against the New York Rangers, after a slow start to the game. The Devils controlled the offensive zone, and it seemed like just a matter of time before they sealed the deal.

Ilya Kovalchuk missed the net twice in overtime. Los Angeles battled to get the puck out of their zone. Finally, just over eight minutes into the extra frame, Justin Williams fed it out to a wide open Anze Kopitar, who skated in and scored on Martin Brodeur for the game-winner.

The series continues on Saturday night in Newark. Los Angeles' win erases an early home ice advantage for the Devils, who need to even the series in Game 2 before heading to the West Coast.

SB Nation New York has a host of previews and analysis for your in our Stanley Cup Finals StoryStream. You can find more entertaining reading on the SB Nation NHL Hub Page. For the Devils perspective, check In Lou We Trust. For the Kings perspective, visit Jewels From The Crown.

The New York Mets' bullpen was at it again on Wednesday night. Tasked with holding onto a two-run lead with three innings left to play, a parade of pitchers surrendered nine runs to the Philadelphia Phillies in a 10-6 loss.

Starter Dillon Gee was pulled in the seventh with two outs and one man on base. Bobby Parnell gave up a home run to Carlos Ruiz, the first batter he faced. It was all downhill from there. Jon Rauch, who picked up the loss, gave up a run in relief of Parnell. Tim Byrdak gave up one himself, and Ramon Ramirez surrendered three runs.

Lucas Duda was one bright spot for the Mets. He homered twice for his second multi-homer game. One of those long balls came in the ninth, tipping off a short-lived rally in which the Mets score three to close the gap.

The Mets host the Cardinals on Friday for a three-game weekend series.

For more on the Mets, please be sure to check out our blog Amazin' Avenue and for everything on the Phillies go visit The Good Phight. For news and notes around Major League baseball check out Baseball Nation.

The Boston Celtics were rolling along in the third quarter of Wednesday night's second game of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat. It looked like the Celtics were about to extend their lead when a stolen ball sent Ray Allen down the court on a fast break against Dwyane Wade.

And then Wade did this.

via assets.sbnation.com

A healthier Allen, rather than the one fighting through an ankle injury, would have had no problems with that shot. Instead, Wade's blocked shot turned into a Mario Chalmers layup at the other end of the court, cutting Boston's lead down to three points.

Chalmers' basket was the start of an unanswered 12-point run that gave the Heat a lead. At the end of the third quarter, Miami leads Boston by a score of 81-75.

For more on the Celtics, please be sure to visit our site Celtics Blog and SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.

On the day that the Philadelphia Phillies sent Roy Halladay to the disabled list for a lengthy period of time and learned that Ryan Howard would not be back in June, the team needed a little good news. A late rally over the New York Mets provided just that. The Phillies clubbed nine runs in the last three innings of the game for a 10-6 win.

The late surge did nothing to help starter Cliff Lee, who failed again to pick up his first win of the season after eight starts. Lee struck out seven, walked one and allowed three earned runs on seven hits.

Trailing by two runs in the seventh, Carlos Ruiz took Dillion Gee deep for a two-run shot that tied the game. An eighth inning sac fly from Shane Victorino scored Juan Pierre and gave the Phillies a lead. Jimmy Rollins opened it wide in the ninth inning with a three-run homer off Ramon Ramirez. They added three more after that.

New York made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth, scoring three runs off Raul Valdez. Jonathan Papelbon came in for the last out.

The Phillies are off on Thursday before starting a weekend series against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field.

For more on the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and go visit Amazin' Avenue for everything on the Mets. Also, check out Baseball Nation for more news and notes around Major League Baseball.

The pace picked up between the New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles Kings in the second period of Wednesday night's Stanley Cup Finals opener. Players put a little more pop in their hits, and the Devils evened the score with a late goal to make it 1-1 after two periods of play.

New Jersey came out hitting to start the period, but the tougher play produced few results. The Kings managed to get a few scoring chances amid the banging and bumping. The Devils did not put a shot on goal until the 14:30 mark of the second period.

With just over a minute to play, Anton Volchenkov deflected a shot into the net. There was some confusion as to who actually scored the goal. It was initially credited to Patrik Elias.

SB Nation New York has a host of previews and analysis for your in our Stanley Cup Finals StoryStream. You can find more entertaining reading on the SB Nation NHL Hub Page. For the Devils perspective, check In Lou We Trust. For the Kings perspective, visit Jewels From The Crown.

The Boston Celtics look to be unstoppable after two quarters of play in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. Behind the inspired play of Rajon Rondo, the Celtics have a 53-46 lead over the Miami Heat.

Rondo, with 24 minutes of playing time, has 22 points through the first half, hitting seven of his 11 attempts from the field and eight of his 10 free throws. His shooting is pacing the Celtics who are hitting 54.1 percent from the field. Brandon Bass has eight rebounds.

Miami is being bolstered by attempts outside the arc. The Heat are 6-for-14 on three pointers. Mario Chalmers hit three of his shots from outside the arc to help keep the game from getting out of control in the second quarter. He leads Miami with 14 points. LeBron James has 13 points, seven of which have come at the free throw line.

At one point the Celtics led by 15, but the Heat closed the gap late in a preview of what promises to be an exciting second half.

For more on the Celtics, please be sure to visit our site Celtics Blog and SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.

It sure looked like LeBron James was going to be making a powerful statement with an early dunk in the second game of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. James went up for the dunk, slammed it down only to have the ball pop back out of the hoop, resulting in the rare missed slam dunk.

Take a look for yourself:

via assets.sbnation.com

Would a King miss a slam dunk? Boston fans would certainly have their doubts.

That was one of four missed shots for James. He was leading the Heat with six points, four on free throws, with about a minute to play in the first period. As a team, the Heat are shooting just 30 percent from the field.

Paul Pierce leads the Celtics with eight points. Boston is shooting 50 percent from the field.

For more on the Celtics, please be sure to visit our site Celtics Blog and SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.

The 2012 Stanley Cup Finals started on Wednesday night in Newark, with the New Jersey Devils hosting the Los Angeles Kings. After the first period, the Devils are down a goal. The Kings lead 1-0 with 40 minutes left to play.

Jordan Nolan fought for the puck along the boards. He finally found the rubber and fed it out to the front of the net. Colin Fraser was there waiting, and hammered the puck past Martin Brodeur for his first goal of the playoffs. Watch the video below:

Both teams took a few minutes to feel each other out, giving the game a slow start. Each team had five shots on goal. The Devils failed to convert a power play resulting from Dustin Brown's rather obvious goaltender interference penalty.

via assets.sbnation.com

SB Nation New York has a host of previews and analysis for your in our Stanley Cup Finals StoryStream. You can find more entertaining reading on the SB Nation NHL Hub Page. For the Devils perspective, check In Lou We Trust. For the Kings perspective, visit Jewels From The Crown.

The 2012 NBA Draft Lottery did not go as hoped for the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets drew the sixth pick in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft, which means they will not be picking in the first round at all. Brooklyn's first-round pick goes to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of the Gerald Wallace trade.

Odds gave the Nets only a 7.5 percent chance of getting the top pick and a 25 percent chance of landing in the top three. Landing a top-three pick would have allowed the Nets to keep their first-round pick.

The New Orleans Hornets landed the top pick in the draft. Charlotte got the second pick, and Washington ended up with the third.

Earlier on Wednesday, rumors circulated that the Nets might consider dealing the top pick, and the right to draft Kentucky's Anthony Davis, to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Dwight Howard. Landing Howard, the report said, would help the team hang onto to Deron Williams. Whether the report had any substance is now irrelevant.

1. New Orleans

2. Charlotte

3. Washington

4. Cleveland

5. Sacramento

6. Portland (via Brooklyn)

7. Golden State

8. Toronto

9. Detroit

10. New Orleans (via Minnesota)

11. Portland

12. Milwaukee

13. Phoenix

14. Houston

15. Philadelphia

16. Houston (via New York)

17. Dallas

18. Minnesota (via Utah)

19. Orlando

20. Denver

21. Boston

22. Boston (via L.A. Clippers)

23. Atlanta

24. Cleveland (via L.A. Lakers)

25. Memphis

26. Indiana

27. Miami

28. Oklahoma City

29. Chicago

30. Golden State via San Antonio

-- For more on the Nets, please be sure to visit our blog Nets Daily and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

The end of May is still a little early for fantasy football rankings. For fans of the St. Louis Rams that doesn't really matter, as most fantasy work is based on precedent and that does not favor a team that could barely scrape together 12 points a game last year.

Nevertheless, a new set of rankings out today from Rotoworld includes a familiar face for Rams fans. Mike Clay put Steven Jackson on his list of top ten running backs for the season, right at No. 10. Here's his reasoning for the ranking:

Jackson has seen, at least, 65 percent of the carries and 11 percent of the targets for the Rams over the last four years. Additionally, he's been responsible for 67-plus percent of the team's rushing scores in each of those seasons. Jackson averaged 19.4 carries and 4.3 targets-per-game in the 13 complete games he played in 2011. His 4.4 YPC was his highest mark over the last four years.

The two questions around Jackson from a fantasy football perspective are, for me anyway, touchdowns and health. His rushing yards have been nice, but only 11 touchdowns in the last two seasons limit his fantasy value. A better Rams offense should help, as will a coaching staff with more proclivity to pounding the ball in short yardage situations. Once again, the unknowns around the offensive line also make a big difference.

As far as health goes, Jackson has been remarkably healthy considering the workload he's been carrying. He was limited to just 260 attempts last season, which bodes well for this year. Isaiah Pead figures to take away some rushing attempts, but that too could make Jackson a more productive part of the offense.

Glory be, the 2013 Pro Bowl is saved. Back from the brink of extinction after an April report that said the league was considering suspending the annual event and but of many jokes. The St. Louis Rams had nobody representing them in the last Pro Bowl. Will that change in the next one?

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The Pro Bowl is saved. A month after speculation that the NFL might nix its version of an all-star game, the NFL and the NFLPA announced via a joint release on Wednesday that the 2013 Pro Bowl is set for January 27 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.

For the fourth year in a row, the Pro Bowl will happen the week before the Super Bowl, launching a week of media hysteria around the big game. This year's Pro Bowl will be broadcast on NBC at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

In late April, a report surfaced that the league was considering suspending the event due to the quality of play. The NFL responded noting that no decision had been made at that time, though the league did acknowledge problems with the product.

Players and the NFLPA had a hand in bringing back the game in 2013. From the joint NFL/NFLPA release:

"The players have made it clear through the NFL Players Association that they would like the opportunity to continue to play the Pro Bowl in Hawaii," said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson. "We look forward to working with the players toward the goal of improving the competitiveness of this season's game."

Dominique Foxworth echoed that sentiment.

"The players believe that the Pro Bowl is an important tradition," said Foxworth. "We worked hard with the league to make sure the best players in the NFL are honored for their achievements on the field."

Some 12.5 million fans watched the 2012 Pro Bowl, the second-highest television rating since 2001. That number was down by about 900,000 viewers from the 2011 Pro Bowl.

By comparison, the first night of the 2012 NFL Draft was seen by some 25 million viewers. NBC's Sunday Night Football averaged more than 20 million viewers per broadcast last season, and the Sunday afternoon telecasts on CBS and Fox routinely drew more than 20 million viewers. ESPN averaged 13.3 million for its Monday Night Football broadcasts. The Pro Bowl may earn some derision from fans, but it is still a moneymaker, even bringing up the rear of pro football broadcasts.

The St. Louis Rams open the season in Detroit, with a tough game against the resurgent Lions. Those Lions could be a little shorthanded that week thanks to a pair of imminent suspensions for offseason scofflaws Mikel Leshoure and Nick Fairley.

As Ian Rapoport pointed out, the Lions losing Leshoure and Fairley is hardly the same thing as losing Matthew Stafford or Calvin Johnson. Nevertheless, both are being counted on as major contributors in their second season. Fairley, after playing well in limited duty last season, should get the starting job next to Ndamukong Suh. Leshoure is needed to bolster an offense that lacked a run threat last season, thanks in part to his season-ending injury.

The Lions proved time and time again last year that they could lean on their air attack to win games. If the Rams much-hyped defensive line and rebuilt secondary are going strong out of the gate, they could give Detroit some problems.

Week 1 will also be the first big test, the first real test period, for a Rams offensive line that has many wondering. Detroit's front four presents a tough matchup. Barring unforeseen circumstances, or a preseason stomping incident, Suh will give the Rams interior line a real challenge. Any defensive tackle playing next to Suh has an advantage, but Fairley adds another pass rusher for them to deal with.

Of course, more than the potentially suspended players, the thing to keep an eye on ahead of this game is the appearance of Jim Schwartz running an undisciplined team, something driven home by the incidents with Titus Young and Suh's on-field control issues. The Lions' penalty issues cost them last year. If they don't get those ironed out now, it might provide the Rams with just the opportunity they need.